Headers worth it for occassional "street fight"

[Griz]

Guys and gals,

Just wanted to get opinions on what to do if all you care about is the occassional stoplight drag. I realize you need to start off by freeing up the air flow with a different intake and exhaust, but are headers actually worth the expense? I figure around $1000-$1200 for the headers/cats, and then another $400-$600 for install. So, do headers give you enough over the stock manifolds to justify dumping that kind of money when focused on torque/acceleration? My plan is to do nitrous, and the more I think about it, the more I lean towards a no-go on headers since I never plan on hitting the track. What do you all think?

Thanks,
Griz

[EvilSRT]

A good kit and the other needed components(heater, opener, purge, gauges, hobbs switches, etc..) will put you a lil under the price of the headers and will be the best bang for your buck. Especially since we dont have the tuning as of yet to get the most out of bolt ons.

[MomsR/T]

BUT............the #1 thing nitrous needs is a good exhaust..........when you shove in the amount of air it take for a BIG BLOCK into a SMALL BOCK, you need to now breath like a BIG BLOCK!

Why do you have to run long tubes?

Why does someone else have to put them on for you?

Take a set of JBA shorties, JBA hi-flows, and some cat-back system............if you do it all JBA, you might be able to do the WHOLE THING for $1200..............

In my oppinion, you don't need a purge and you def. don't need a bottle opener....................if you want one, PM FLyByU and he'll sell you his.

Is exhaust worth it? I dunno................its your money, but if this is the game you wunna play then yeah, its worth it.

[EvilSRT]

Good point lee. I dont have a purge or an opener either, but alot of people do and there have been several time I wish I could have opened her up driving down the highway(I seem to always run into something worth playing with when my bottle is closed). Another idea if you're on a budget would be SRT headers and midpipes......

Bottom line is N20 is the best bang for the buck out there!


Just throwing out ideas.....

[MomsR/T]

great ideas..................and I agree.

How bout this:

How about buying your exhaust a little at a time and storing it under your bed......................when you get ready to put heads on, you put the exhaust on then.

[Griz]

Thanks for the input so far, guys.

BUT............the #1 thing nitrous needs is a good exhaust..........when you shove in the amount of air it take for a BIG BLOCK into a SMALL BOCK, you need to now breath like a BIG BLOCK!

I do have Flowmasters in place of the suitcase, and will soon have electric dumps as well. Now I know that even after all that, my headers are going to be my bottleneck. And I have to agree that you would get OPTIMAL results by running headers. But what I am wondering is how much better the results actually are when comparing stock manifolds to aftermarket headers in a head to head 0-60 street run while juicing it. Is the "headered" car going to pull insanely more than the stocker? Or will the headered car shine more after that 60mph mark is passed?

Why do you have to run long tubes?

Aren't long tubes the better option for torque, having a longer pipe to more equally manage the pulse? Besides, by the time you factor in the JBA shorties and cats, you could purchase the Mopar set. I know the Mopars are not a TRUE, full length tube, but I have read a couple threads on people swapping from JBAs to Mopars and liking them better. And I think that Powerwagon guy is getting great results from his.

Why does someone else have to put them on for you?

Simply put, I just don't have the freakin' time!

Is exhaust worth it? I dunno................its your money, but if this is the game you wunna play then yeah, its worth it.

I realize I will only see a benefit from doing a set, but I have to weigh the cost since I am not as hardcore as some of you out here. I guess what I am looking for is someone saying, "Griz, you wouldn't see much difference if you are only worried about stoplight battles. But if you plan on going to the track on a regular basis, you would be an idiot for not throwing a set on."

Oh, and thanks a lot, MomsR/T. Reading your posts on nitrous is what convinced me to do it in the first place. LOL!

Griz

[BIGDAVE]

My .02 is go with the SRT headers and mid pipes.They work perfect.And the cost is alot better.
BIGDAVE

[Griz]

My .02 is go with the SRT headers and mid pipes.They work perfect.And the cost is alot better.
BIGDAVE

So there are no fitment issues with the SRT headers meeting up with the 5.7's heads? I remember a discussion (quite some time ago) saying it wouldn't work, but that WAS early on, so some speculating may have been taking place. There were no mods at all needed to make them work for you, BIGDAVE?

Thanks,
Griz

[BIGDAVE]

You have to add a tube on the Pass side for the EGR,SRT bolts and SRT gaskets.Franks Racing can set them up no problem.They fit perfect.
BIGDAVE

[formerice]

I did the Dynatecs and hi flow cats with the Borla cat backs when my car was almost new. Happy camper, but a lot poorer. If I had the bucks, I do a stroker kit, heads and cam next and sway bars. Then nitrous as the frosting on the cake.